The morning sun bathed the forest in a golden hue as the group began their journey deeper into the forest. Having finished breakfast and packed up quickly, they began to move once more.
Seraphina took the lead as she scouted the area ahead of her with her blade in hand. Edwin, Harold, and Samuel followed her from the sides to ensure her safety, making sure nothing got near them with sharp senses.
The forest seemed to grow denser as they progressed further, the trees towering above them grew thicker with lusher branches that made it hard for light to get in. Thankfully they could still see because of the various glowing mushrooms and flora that decorated the floor and trees.
The air was thick with the scent of nature, fresh wood and grass, and the damp scent of wet earth. The sound of rustling leaves and the distant sounds of animals sounded out from time to time, putting them on edge.
The journey was slow, each step deliberate as they navigated through the underbrush the best they could to avoid trouble. Edwin occasionally stopped to check their surroundings, his experience as a knight evident in his cautious movements.
"Stay close, and watch your footing. The deeper we go, the more unpredictable the terrain becomes."
Edwin advised in a low but steady voice. He took the lead as they got deeper, this time to ensure they were avoiding any dangerous areas that Seraphina might miss.
Seraphina didn't mind and simply followed the man, she kept her eyes peeled as she scanned the area around them. She was trying her best to gain an understanding of the area, learning how to look out for markings or potential dangers.
Being a good knight wasn't just about fighting, one had to have keen senses and a good head on their shoulder. To survive as a knight you needed to understand where danger was, running or avoiding a dangerous situation was sometimes more important to a knight than just strength.
Often one would come across a situation where they were at a disadvantage, a good knight could tell when those situations might happen, or even prevent them from happening to begin with.
As they walked for a few more hours, the forest finally changed from how it was in the outer area and grew much denser. The trees were taller and thicker, their branches intertwining to create a natural canopy that blocked out much of the sunlight. The underbrush became denser, making it harder to navigate.
"We're entering the middle layer of the forest. Stay alert, this area is known for its dangerous creatures and unpredictable terrain. Goblins are very common here; and the least of our worry."
Edwin warned in a voice that was barely above a whisper, but the group heard him clearly.
The group moved cautiously after the warning, their senses heightened as they were ready to fight at a moment's notice. Every rustle of leaves and snap of twigs had them on edge, but they continued to press forward in search of anything.
After a few more minutes of walking, they came across a small stream near an outline of trees. The water was clear and fresh, a welcome sight after the long trek.
"We'll take a short break here and refresh. Stay vigilant, this is a good place for a drink but it will also attract wildlife. Be ready to move in 10."
Edwin announced, gesturing for the group to gather around the stream. The group placed down the gear but didn't unpack anything as they wouldn't be staying long.
Seraphina knelt by the stream, cupping her hands to collect the cool water. She first took a sniff out of it; fresh. The water smelt fine, in fact, it had the very fresh scent of mineral. She took a sip, the refreshing taste washing over her body as she sighed.
The knights did the same, filling their water pouches and keeping an eye on the surroundings.
Washing her face with some of the water, Seraphina felt much better—all the fatigue she had built up from walking washed away into nothing. Once she was done she decided to take the chance to obverse the forest around them.
She didn't stray far, but she walked near the trees observing just how ancient they were, their trunks thick and gnarled with the passage of time. Moss covered the ground and small flowers she had never seen before peeked out from the grass.
'If it wasn't for how dangerous it was, this place is rather beautiful.'
As she was observing the area, she heard a voice call out to her from behind, drawing her attention.
"Lady Seraphina, have you noticed anything unusual about the forest?"
Seraphina shook her head and made her way back to the group, avoiding going too far.
"No, I was just observing the area. We should stay on guard though, this place feels dangerous."
Harold nodded in agreement and chimed into the conversation from the side.
"I've heard stories about these parts of the forest. They say it's home to creatures as big as carriages, and that some of them can appear and disappear at will. We need to be prepared for anything."
Edwin finished filling his water pouches as the group spoke and stood up—moving closer to them.
"Let's move. We're not going to stay in this area for too long, this is just scouting for now, we leave this area of the forest before nightfall."
As much as Seraphina was curious about this layer of the forest and the creatures that stay here, she agreed that the danger was very much present. As such she didn't protest and simply nodded in agreement.
With everyone in agreement, the group began to make their way back to the outer layer of the forest through another pathway. They encountered various interesting flora and creatures as they traveled back, thankfully the creatures didn't attack them.
'A deer?'
Seraphina stared at the creature before her, it looked like a deer but it was very small. It was around the size of a house cat, it looked like she could pick it up if she wanted.
It wasn't because it was a baby either, it was a fully grown deer, it was just small and its body had glowing marks on it. She was curious about it, but she didn't approach it in case it got aggressive.
Making their way past it, Seraphina felt something suddenly grab her leg and she almost fell over; thankfully Edwin held out a hand and prevented her from falling.
Thanking him, she glanced down at what had suddenly tripped her—a vine. Some sort of vine had suddenly extended out from the ground and wrapped around her foot.
It wasn't hurting her, it just tripped her.
"Is it the deer?"
She said as she glanced over at the deer that was nearby looking at them—it looked but didn't approach them.
"It could be playing a trick, let's avoid it before it gets aggressive."
Agreeing with Edwin's words, she cut the vine from her foot and proceeded to walk once more. However just like before, as she tried to leave, another vine extended from the ground and wrapped around her foot.
Thankfully this time she didn't trip as she was prepared for it, instead she just tugged on the vine that held on tightly.
"What do you want?"
It was clear the creature wasn't being aggressive, it had the chance to attack them yet it hadn't. It was just being annoying, or for whatever reason, it was stopping her from going further down this path.
Frowning her brows, a thought crossed her mind as she looked behind her in the direction they were going; was it dangerous?